Alabama Softball Battles Back But Falls To Florida, 8-4

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Alabama Softball Battles Back But Falls To Florida, 8-4

Lexington, KY – The Alabama softball team fought back from a four-run deficit but fell short in the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinal to top-seeded Florida, 8-4, Thursday afternoon at John Cropp Stadium. After the day the Crimson Tide moves to 42-13 on the season.

Florida scored an unearned run in the opening frame and then added three more in the fourth to take a 4-0 lead but Bama rallied to even the score in the fifth.

The Tide loaded the bases and then senior Kayla Braud started the scoring with an infield single that scored sophomore Danielle Richard. Sophomore Ryan Iamurri then drove in sophomore Danae Hays on a groundout to short before freshman Andrea Hawkins scored on a wild pitch and Braud came across on a Molly Fichtner single to left-center.

The Gators would retake the lead for good in the sixth as Kristi Merritt hit a three-run home run off the foul pole down the line in left. Florida added another on a sac-fly in foul territory off the bat of Briana Little.

Braud paced the Tide at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate. The senior scored and drove in a run. Sophomore Leslie Jury (16-7) was tagged with the loss after allowing seven runs – six earned on eight hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out five and walked four.

The Crimson Tide will await its NCAA tournament seed which will be announced on the selection show.